Related

Article

Butland eyes loan move to boost Brazil hopes

Jack Butland has conceded he may need to leave Stoke City on loan to earn a place in England's FIFA World Cup squad.

The 21-year-old was loaned out to Championship side Barnsley earlier this season after finding first-team opportunities limited at the Britannia Stadium behind Asmir Begovic and Thomas Sorensen.

Butland returned in December after Begovic broke his finger, and he played his first Stoke game when Sorensen suffered an Achilles problem against Everton.

He started the next two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Crystal Palace but failed to keep a clean sheet, and once Begovic returned to full fitness, he assumed the number one spot.

With Sorensen also available, Butland has not been involved in Stoke's last three Premier League fixtures, and he admits another loan might be in order to impress Roy Hodgson and earn a spot in the World Cup.

"Now that the transfer window is closed a loan move to the Premier League is not on the cards, so I'll either see what happens at Stoke or assess my options in the Championship," he told Sky Sports News.

"If I'm not playing there is no way I can be chosen for any squad. I need to be playing in order to give myself a chance of going (to Brazil).

"I'm always confident in my ability; you have to be as a goalkeeper. If I'm playing well I have a chance.

"All I can focus on is playing as many games as I can at the highest level. If that leads me to the World Cup, then brilliant. It's certainly a target of mine."